Convertible seat for watercraft

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure include convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated (also known as casting or sighting) seat options for recreational watercraft, such as kayaks and the like. In various embodiments, a recreational watercraft such as a kayak may include both a standard seat in the cockpit, and an elevated seat comprising a molded-in seat platform formed in the hull and/or deck of the watercraft. In various embodiments, the standard seat may be configured to be stowed at least partially under the elevated seat when the standard seat is not in use. In other embodiments, an adjustable seating system for a watercraft is provided that includes a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion. In some embodiments, the seating portion may be adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more elastic retention members and one or more adjustment straps that permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/366,511, filed Jul. 21, 2010, entitled “CONVERTIBLE SEAT FOR WATERCRAFT,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated seating options for recreational watercraft, such as kayaks and the like.

BACKGROUND

Seats for kayaks typically are provided with a substantially horizontal seat support portion and a substantially vertical portion for back support. The seats may be adjustable to allow for incline adjustments for the back support portion as well as incline adjustments to the seat support portion to accommodate paddlers of various heights. Height adjustability of the seat itself, however, typically is not provided.

The limited options that do exist for kayak seat height adjustments generally involve placing blocks or other rigid support structures beneath the entire seat structure. On-the-fly height adjustments, while afloat, for example, may be complicated and may require the paddler to carry the blocks or other rigid support structures at all times.

DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial x-ray perspective view of a sit-in kayak, including standard and elevated seat configurations, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a partial x-ray side view of the kayak of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another partial perspective view of the kayak of FIG. 1, excluding the hull of the kayak;

FIG. 4 is another partial perspective view of the kayak of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the standard seat of FIG. 1 in the stowed position beneath the elevated seat;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the standard seat of FIG. 1 with the back support folded down and being used as an elevated seat;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a molded seat in a sit-on-top kayak, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the molded seat of FIG. 7 with a back support in the elevated position;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the molded seat of FIG. 7 in which the back support is folded down to provide an elevated seating surface;

FIG. 9 is another partial perspective view of the molded sea of FIG. 7 and corresponding to FIG. 8, in which the back support is folded down to provide an elevated seating surface;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sit-on-top kayak equipped with an adjustable seat, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C illustrate three top views of the adjustable seat of FIG. 10 in three different fore/aft adjustment position;

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the adjustable seat of FIG. 10, showing adjustment straps and tensioning members; and

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate two views of a sit-on-top kayak equipped with a molded-in standard seat an a molded-in elevated seat stern-ward of the standard seat, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.

The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “NB” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.

The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated (also known as casting or sighting) seat options for recreational watercraft, such as sit-in kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, and the like. For example, in various embodiments, a recreational watercraft such as a sit-in kayak may include both a standard seat in the cockpit, and an elevated seat comprising a molded-in seat platform formed in the hull and/or deck of the watercraft. In some embodiments, the standard seat may be configured to be stowed at least partially under the elevated seat when the standard seat is not in use.

In various embodiments, the standard seat may include a seat support portion and a back support portion, and the back support portion may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the standard seat may be at least partially stowed when the back support portion is in the folded position, and in other embodiments, the back support portion may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position. In these embodiments, the back side of the back support portion may be configured with a thickness and a contour to provide a surface suitable for use as an elevated seat when in the folded position. In still other embodiments, the folded back support portion may provide a surface on which to place a second seat that may provide an elevated seating surface. Such a second seat may be a camp-style seat or a molded seat in various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a separate, elevated seat also may be provided that may be integrally molded into the kayak hull and/or deck. As with the standard seat, in some embodiments, the elevated seat may be provided with a back support portion, and the back support portion may be integral to the molded seat, or it may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the back support portion also may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position, and a user may choose to sit on the seat support portion when the back support portion is in the raised position, or on the lowered back support portion if an even higher seating position is desired. In still other embodiments, a second seat may be placed over the molded seat to provide an elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the molded seat may include a fixed, integrally molded backrest, and the second seat may be configured to sit on top of the fixed, integrally molded backrest. In some embodiments, a user may rest his or her feet on the molded seat when seated on the second seat.

In still other embodiments, a standard seat for use in either a sit-on-top kayak or a sit-in kayak may be provided with adjustable elements such as slide rails and/or straps and tensioning elements that may allow the seat to be adjusted in a fore-and-aft direction, and that may allow the seat to be easily removed from the kayak and easily reinstalled. In various embodiments, this adjustable seat also may be provided with a back support portion, and the back support portion may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the back support portion also may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position, and a user may choose to sit on the seat support portion when the back support portion is in the raised position, or on the lowered back support portion if a higher seating position is desired. In some embodiments, the lowered back support may provide a surface on which a second seat may be placed that may provide an elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the second seat may be a molded seat or a camp-style seat.

Further embodiments may include seats that may be integrally molded into the hull and/or deck of a sit-on-top kayak. As with the standard seat described above, in some embodiments, the elevated seat may be provided with a back support portion, and the back support portion may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the back support portion also may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position, and a user may choose to sit on the seat support portion when the back support portion is in the raised position, or on the lowered back support portion if a higher seating position is desired. In still other embodiments, a second seat may be placed over the molded seat or the folded back support portion to provide an elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the molded seat may include a fixed, integrally molded backrest, and the second seat may be configured to sit on top of the fixed, integrally molded backrest. In some embodiments, a user may rest his or her feet on the molded seat when seated on the second seat.

FIG. 1 is a partial x-ray perspective view of a sit-in kayak, including standard and elevated seat configurations, in accordance with various embodiments; FIG. 2 is a partial x-ray side view of the kayak of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is another partial perspective view of the kayak of FIG. 1, excluding the hull of the kayak; and FIG. 4 is another partial perspective view of the kayak of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, in various embodiments, a sit-in kayak 100 may include a standard seat 108 having a seat support portion 110 and a back support portion 112. In various embodiments, standard seat 108 may be formed from any suitable material including, for example, fabric, foam, metal, fiberglass, molded plastic, or a combination thereof, and may be configured with various adjustment capabilities. For example, as can be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, standard seat 108 may be situated on slide bars 114 or a track to permit fore and aft adjustments to the standard seat 108. Additionally, in some embodiments, standard seat 108 may include a height-adjustable leg lift/support member 116, and back support portion 112 may be configured to tilt-adjust to accommodate various comfort preferences of the paddler.

In various embodiments, an elevated seat 118, also known as a casting or sighting seat, also may be provided that may be integrally molded into the kayak hull and/or deck as illustrated in FIG. 1. In various embodiments, elevated seat 118 may provide an elevated sitting position for the paddler. An elevated sitting position may be desirable for any number of reasons including, for example, sighting, fishing, casting, or simply to provide an elevated paddling position. In some embodiments, elevated seat 118 may have a height comparable to that of a typical canoe seat.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, elevated seat 118 may be form molded to provide a comfortable and secure sitting position for the paddler. Although the depicted elevated seat 118 is formed in a contoured semi-circular shape, other configurations may be used. Moreover, in various embodiments, a cushion or a seat with an attached back support may be provided on the elevated surface for additional comfort, as described in greater detail below.

In various embodiments, additional support under elevated seat 118 may be desired to accommodate paddlers of various weights. As is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, to that end, in some embodiments, a thwart 120 may be provided to support the front edge of elevated seat 118. In addition or in the alternative, a bulkhead support 122 may be oriented within hull 104 to support the rear of elevated seat 118. In some embodiments, bulkhead support 122 may be formed of a foam material, which also may provide additional flotation support to the structure. Whether kayak 100 is configured with the additional support of thwart 120 and/or bulkhead 122 may depend at least in part on the strength of the material used for constructing hull 104 and/or deck 106 of kayak 100. For example, if the material used for constructing hull 104 and/or deck 106 of kayak 100 exhibits a sufficient strength to accommodate the expected use of kayak 100, one or both of thwart 120 and bulkhead 122 may be omitted from the kayak structure.

In various embodiments, standard seat 108 and elevated seat 118 may be situated to avoid overloading the stern end of kayak 100. To that end, standard seat 108 and elevated seat 118 may be located closer to the kayak's center of buoyancy. In some embodiments, whether the paddler should want to stand in kayak 100 while kayak 100 is afloat may be a consideration as to the location of standard 108 and elevated seats 118. In general, it may be desirable to configure kayak 100 such that the standing paddler would be at the kayak's center of buoyancy.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the standard seat of FIG. 1 in a stowed position beneath the elevated seat. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in various embodiments, standard seat 108 may be at least partially stowed beneath elevated seat 118 in order to access elevated seat 118. In some embodiments, to stow standard seat 108, back support portion 112 of standard seat 108 may be tilted down towards seat support portion 110 to an extent suitable for sliding standard seat 108 at least partially under molded elevated seat 118. In some embodiments, once back support portion 112 has been tilted down, standard seat 108 may then be moved back toward the stern of the kayak. In some embodiments, in the stowed position, the paddler may sit on elevated seat 118 with enough clearance in the cockpit for his or her legs. In various embodiments, to return standard seat 108 to its original position, standard seat 108 may be moved back out from under the elevated seat 118, and back support portion 112 may be tilted back up.

As shown in FIG. 6, in some embodiments, back support portion 112 may be configured to function as an elevated seat when in the folded position. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the standard seat of FIG. 1 with the back support folded down and being used as an elevated seat. In these embodiments, the back side of back support portion 112 may be configured with a thickness and a contour to provide a surface suitable for use as an elevated seat when in the folded position.

In some embodiments, standard seat 108 may be integrally molded into the kayak hull and/or deck as described below in greater detail for elevated seat 118. In these embodiments, standard seat 108 may not be adjustable fore and aft, however standard seat may be height adjustable by virtue of its foldable back support portion 112 as described above, which may enable standard seat to function as both a standard seat and an elevated seat.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the molded elevated seat of an example of a sit-on-top kayak; FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the molded elevated seat shown in FIG. 7 in which the back support is folded down to provide an elevated seating surface; and FIG. 9 is another partial perspective view of the molded elevated seat of FIG. 7 in which the back support is folded down to provide an elevated seating surface.

In other embodiments, for instance, for use in a sit-on-top kayak, a molded seat may be equipped such that it may be used as either a standard seat and/or an elevated seat. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, a molded standard seat 208 may provide a standard sitting position for the paddler. As shown in FIG. 7, in various embodiments, molded standard seat 208 may be formed as a contoured semi-circular shape. However, other configurations may me used in some embodiments, for instance to suit any of a variety of uses or users of different sizes. In some embodiments, standard seat 208 may be molded to generally conform to the contours of the body of a user. In other embodiments, standard seat 208 may be molded so as to receive seat padding materials or cushions. Additionally, in various embodiments, standard seat 208 may be equipped with a seatback support portion 224 for additional comfort, as shown in FIG. 7.

In some embodiments, the seatback support portion 224 of standard seat 208 may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion to provide an elevated seat configuration, or to provide padding or impact protection for a user, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. As described above, an elevated sitting position mat be desirable for any number of reasons including, for example, sighting, fishing, casting, or simply to provide an elevated paddling position. Thus, in various embodiments, as illustrated, seatback support portion 224 may be configured with a thickness to provide a height suitable for adjusting the height of standard seat 208 to a higher position when seatback portion 224 is in the folded position. In addition, in some embodiments, the back side of seatback support portion 224 may be formed with a contour suitable to provide a comfortable seated position. In various embodiments, seatback support portion 224 may be formed of any suitable material, which may be the same as or different than that used for the seat support portion. For example, in various embodiments, elevated seatback support portion 224 may be formed fabric, foam, metal, fiberglass, molded plastic, or a combination thereof.

Additionally, in various embodiments, standard seat 208 may be molded into the deck of kayak 200 as illustrated, or it may be formed of any suitable material including, for example, fabric, foam, metal, fiberglass, molded plastic, or a combination thereof. Although the standard seat 208 depicted in FIGS. 7-9 is shown as molded into the deck of kayak 200 itself, other embodiments may include an adjustable-type seat (e.g., similar to standard seat 108 depicted in FIGS. 1-6). For example, in some embodiments, standard seat 208 may be situated on a slide bar or a track, or may be equipped with adjustments straps and tensioning elements to permit vertical fore and aft adjustments. In addition, in some embodiments, standard seat 208 may include a height-adjustable leg lift/support, and back support portion 212 may be configured to tilt-adjust to accommodate various comfort preferences of the paddler.

In some embodiments, an adjustable seat may be provided that may be easily adjusted by a user for on-the-fly (e.g., seated) fore/aft adjustments of the seat. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sit-on-top kayak equipped with an adjustable seat, in accordance with various embodiments; FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C illustrate three top views of the adjustable seat of FIG. 10 in three different fore/aft adjustment position; and FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the adjustable seat of FIG. 10, showing adjustment straps and tensioning members. In some embodiments, the adjustable seat 308 (see, e.g., FIG. 10) may include a seat support portion 310 and a back support portion 312, and may removably couple to sit-on-top kayak 300.

The close-up view of adjustable seat 308 shown in FIG. 12 illustrates the adjustment strap 324 and rear tensioning members 326 that may couple adjustable seat 308 to sit-on-top kayak 300. In various embodiments, adjustable seat 308 may provide the sit-on-top paddler a seat that is adjustable, fore and aft, from a seated position. In various embodiments, moving the seat 308 to a more stern-ward position may open up a space in the cockpit that may provide foot room that may be needed when standing to fish or perform other standing activities. In various embodiments, moving the seat also may allow the paddler to adjust, for example on the fly, the bow-to-stern trim of the vessel for performance (e.g., tracking, weight distribution, bow buoyancy when going through a surf zone, static wind resistance (the direction the vessel points into the wind when stationary), and the like).

As shown in FIG. 12, in some embodiments, adjustment strap 324 may couple to (for example, loop through) buckle member 328 (or another type of attachment member, such as a loop, ring, or slide). Buckle member 328 may also couple to one or more front kayak attachment elements 334, and therefore may couple adjustment strap 324 (and therefore adjustable seat 308) to kayak 300. In some embodiments, this configuration may leave a free end of adjustment strap 324. In some embodiments, a user may apply tension to the free end of adjustment strap 324 in order to move adjustable seat 308 towards the bow of kayak 300. Conversely, loosening adjustment strap 324 may allow adjustable seat 308 to move stern-ward, for instance because of tension of adjustable seat 308 from tension members 326.

In some embodiments, a rear portion of adjustable seat 308 may include seatback adjustment straps 322 for adjusting the angle between seat support portion 310 and back support portion 312. Additionally, tensioning members 326 may couple to one or more attachment elements 330, such as hooks, clips, slides, loops, rings, etc. One or more rear kayak attachment elements 332, such a s hooks, clips, slides, loops, rings, etc., may be provided for coupling the tensioning members (and therefore adjustable seat 308) to kayak 300.

As shown in FIGS. 11A-C, in various embodiments, adjustment strap 324 may be tightened or loosened by a user seated in adjustable seat 308 in order to move adjustable seat 308 to a desired fore/aft position in kayak 300. In some embodiments, decoupling adjustment strap 324 or buckle member 328 and tensioning members 326 or attachment elements 330 from kayak 300 may allow adjustable seat 308 to be quickly and easily removed from kayak 300 by a user.

Further embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, which illustrate two views of a sit-on-top kayak equipped with a molded-in standard seat an a molded-in elevated seat stern-ward of the standard seat, in accordance with various embodiments. In the illustrated embodiments, a watercraft such as a sit-on-top kayak 400 may include an integrally-molded standard seat 408, that may include a seat portion and an integrally-molded (e.g. fixed) backrest portion. As second, integrally-molded seat 418 may be included stern-ward of the standard seat, and this second seat may have an elevated seating surface relative to that of standard seat 408. Thus, a user may choose to use standard seat 408 or elevated (second) seat 418, depending on the desired seating height, the desired seating position, and or the activity to be performed therein. For example, standard seat 408 may be selected for rowing, whereas elevated seat 418 may be selected for fishing or casting. In some embodiments, a user may rest his or her feet and/or legs on a portion of standard seat 408 while seated in elevated seat 418.

As shown in FIG. 13A, in various embodiments, molded standard seat 408 may be formed as a contoured semi-circular shape. However, other configurations may me used in some embodiments, for instance to suit any of a variety of uses or users of different sizes. In some embodiments, standard seat 408 may be molded to generally conform to the contours of the body of a user. In other embodiments, standard seat 408 may be molded so as to receive seat padding materials or cushions. In still other embodiments, a separate elevated seat (e.g., a seat topper) may be placed over the molded standard seat 408 or the elevated seat 418 to provide an even more elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the molded seat may include a fixed, integrally molded backrest, and the second seat may be configured to sit on top of the fixed, integrally molded backrest.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising: a first seat comprising a first seating portion and a first back support portion, wherein the first back support portion is hingeably coupled to the first seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the first seating portion in a storage position, and wherein the first seating portion has a first seating height; a second seat positioned sternward of the first seat and having a second seating portion and a second seating height, wherein the second seating height is higher than the first seating height.
 2. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first seat is configured to stow at least partially under the second seat when the first back support portion is in the storage position.
 3. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first seating portion is slidably coupled to the watercraft so as to permit movement of the first seat in a fore/aft direction.
 4. The adjustable seating system of claim 3, wherein the first seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via a pair of slide bars or via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members.
 5. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first back support portion is tilt-adjustable.
 6. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first seat further comprises a leg support element.
 7. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated seating surface relative to the first seating portion when in the storage position.
 8. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated surface adapted to receive a second seat, and wherein the second seat provides an elevated seating surface relative to the first seating portion.
 9. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the second seating portion is integrally molded into a deck surface of the watercraft.
 10. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the second seat further comprises a second back support portion hingeably coupled to the second seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the second seating portion.
 11. The adjustable seating system of claim 9, wherein the second back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated seating surface relative to the second seating portion when the second back support portion is folded over the second seating portion.
 12. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft comprising a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion.
 13. The adjustable seating system of claim 11, wherein the seating portion is slidably coupled to the watercraft so as to permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction.
 14. The adjustable seating system of claim 12, wherein the seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via a pair of slide bars or via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members.
 15. The adjustable seating system of claim 11, wherein the seating portion is integrally molded into a deck surface of the watercraft.
 16. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft comprising a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion; wherein the seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more elastic retention members and one or more adjustment straps that permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction; wherein the one or more adjustments straps are configured to move the seating portion in a fore direction when tightened; and wherein the one or more elastic retention members are configured to move the seating portion in an aft direction when the one or more adjustments straps are loosened.
 17. The adjustable seating system of claim 15, wherein the one or more elastic retention members are configured to removably couple a rear portion of the seating system to the watercraft.
 18. The adjustable seating system of claim 16, wherein the one or more adjustment straps are configured to removably couple a front portion of the seating system to the watercraft.
 19. The adjustable seating system of claim 16, wherein the seating system is configured to be adjustable while in use.
 20. The adjustable seating system of claim 16, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion.
 21. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising: a first seat comprising an integrally-molded first seating portion and an integrally-molded first back support portion, wherein the first seating portion has a first seating height; a second seat positioned sternward of the first seat and comprising an integrally-molded second seating portion and an integrally-molded second back support portion and having a second seating height, wherein the second seating height is higher than the first seating height. 